colum: appeal to those who have the Some years ago there appeared in these
forward the carrying oubof a plan, proposed tot China xt heart to hel
by Dr. Duncan Main and Dr. Lin Min-tse, to erect building in Hangchow suitable for popular and scientific lectures. Some penses were made, and the I under way, A
opening, however, was postponed until the completed. The building could be provonnced free of debt, but, asin" further subscriptions seemed coming, in it was thought advisable to wait no longer but let the "Lecture Hall"
ite' own plea for funds. Accordingly invitations were sent out to all subscribers, as well as to the leading gentry and officials in the city, 10 at-tond the opening ceremony, which was announced to take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, the Ist of April. Dr. Gilbert Reid of Shanghai was asked to speak and gladly responded. At the hour fixed the floor of the Hall, which is admirably adapted for its purpose, was thronged with an intensely interested assembly. including mandarins, scholars, and the elder pupils of the leading schools in the The large gallery extending all around for the accommodation of ladies filled with t'ait'ais and elder schoolgirls. The whole building wasbeautifully decorated with flowers and plants, all in harmony with the furnishings, which are truly elegant. A large picture of the Emperor hung over the speakers' platform, which isa handsome structure. The 1,000 seats'provided wore insufficient to accommodate the numbers of men, who were content to stand for the two hours in the circles, though the very heavy rain must have kept many away. Some of the gentry present delivered congratulatory addresses. Dr. Main presided, and in his opening speech told the object of the hall, how it had been secured, that it belonged to the people, not to any special Church or Mission or hospital. In the speeches which followed, Dzen Zao-ted (Total tai), Pun Vong-ted (Director of the Government school in Hangchow), and Lob all enthusiasm this must be to the Chinese, and each wished success to it and all conn: eted therewith. Dr. Lin Min-tse read the financial statement, showing that the entire cost has deen less than $6,000.00 and of thi had been paid in but about $1,900.00. Most of this money has been subscribed by the officials and gentry of Hangchow. Then we could publi "Public Speaking in the Occident," and he detailed the meny methods of calling out oratory that exist in the West, such as the pulpit, the bar, the legislatures, the academical. society ties, and debating soci ject was to stimulate among his hearers an Appreciation vf the advantage of the beautifal new building which they were'opening, and to foster " desire to reap the full advantage of the useful lectures it is proposed to give in the hail He referred especially to the interesting fact that this was the first lecture hall in China built by Chinese for Chivese. It that foreigners interested in thi ce-operate in helping to write off the debt which remains, and thus show their appreciation of the two men who have been responsible for completing this philan-tropic scheme. for refreshments, kindly given by a the close of the meeting all adjourned rs, Main, the t'nit'ais being received at their own residence, and the officials snd foreign gentlemen in the large Opium Refuge close by. Dr. Main and Dr. Lin deserve the thanks not only of Hangchow but of all Ohina for the successful accom-pushment of their praiseworthy undertaking.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.